Method for processing received message and electronic device implementing the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are an electronic device and a method for processing messages. The electronic device includes a display unit, a communication unit configured to receive a message from an external device, a storage unit storing a message source list and an unregistered message box, and a control unit configured to determine whether source information of the received message is registered in the message source list, if the source information is not registered in the message source list, store the message in the unregistered message box, and if the source information is registered in the message source list, display by the display unit at least a part of the received message.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed on Jun. 20, 2014 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office and assigned Serial number 10-2014-0075435, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method forprocessing a received message and an electronic device implementing thesame.

BACKGROUND

An electronic device, such as a smart phone, a tablet PC, or the likemay transmit and receive message (e.g., a SMS, a MMS, or a SNS message)with an external device.

SUMMARY

Message considered unnecessary (e.g., a spam message, or “smishing”SMS-based phishing message) may be filtered. For example, messagerelaying servers or equipment (e.g., a base station) may receive amessage from a source, and, if the message is to be filtered, mayrefrain from sending the message to a designated destination. Thefiltering may be implemented according to relation to “registered spaminformation” (e.g., such as restricted phone number, restricted text,etc.). In another example, an electronic device may receive a messagefrom an external device, and if the message matches the “registered spaminformation,” the electronic device may automatically delete the messagewithout displaying the received message.

However, such a filtering method may be frustrated or otherwiseneutralized by a simple change in the registered spam information (e.g.,a change in a spam-registered phone number, text, or imaging of text).In such cases, user may be inadvertently exposed to the altered spammessages.

Meanwhile, the filtering of messages may be vary depending on aparticular user's preferences or configurations. For example, in case ofan advertisement, a certain user may consider it as a spam, while otherusers may not. In addition, if a certain user is interested in, forexample, a “joint purchase”, an advertising message related to the“joint purchase” may not be considered spam message for the certainuser. The filtering of messages may also vary according to time. Forexample, if a certain user is no longer interested in the jointpurchase, the advertising message related to the joint purchase may bedesignated as a spam message for the certain user. Thus, the need for acertain message is not common to all people. If so, a certain user maybe unable to verify a message that may be necessary for a relevant userdue to such a filtering function.

The present disclosure provides an electronic device and method forprocessing a message that can accurately filter out a message necessaryfor a user and an electronic device implementing the same.

In one aspect of this disclosure, a method for processing a messagereceived from an external in an electronic device is disclosed, themethod including receiving a message from an external device, detectingwhether source information of the received message is registered in amessage source list, and if the source information of the receivedmessage is unregistered in the message source list, storing the receivedmessage in an unregistered message box configured to store unregisteredmessages.

In another aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device is disclosedincluding a display unit, a communication unit configured to receive amessage from an external device, a storage unit storing a message sourcelist and an unregistered message box, and a control unit configured to:determine whether source information of the received message isregistered in the message source list, if the source information is notregistered in the message source list, store the message in theunregistered message box, and if the source information is registered inthe message source list, display by the display unit at least a part ofthe received message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an exampleelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example notification screen according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example notification screen according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example notification screen according to a oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for setting an environmentin an electronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an example interface screen for setting a method forprocessing an unregistered source message according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure are describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be apparent tothose of ordinary skilled in the art will recognize that the followingdescription of various changes and modifications of the variousembodiments described herein can be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the present disclosure is provided for illustrationpurpose and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts.

The expressions such as “include” and “may include” which may be used invarious embodiments of the present disclosure denote the presence of thedisclosed functions, operations, and constituent elements and do notlimit one or more additional functions, operations, and constituentelements. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the termssuch as “include” or “have” may be construed to denote a certaincharacteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, componentor a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude theexistence of or a possibility of addition of one or more othercharacteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements,components or combinations thereof.

Furthermore, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, theexpression “and/or” includes any and all combinations of the associatedlisted words. For example, the expression “A and/or B” may include A,may include B, or may include both A and B.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, expressions includingordinal numbers, such as “first” and “second,” or the like, may modifyvarious elements. However, such elements are not limited by the aboveexpressions. For example, the above expressions do not limit thesequence and/or importance of the elements. The above expressions areused merely for the purpose to distinguish an element from the otherelements. For example, a first user device and a second user deviceindicate different user devices although both of them the first userdevice and the second user device are user devices. For example, a firstelement could be termed a second element, and similarly, a secondelement could be also termed a first element without departing from thescope of various embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the case where according to which a component is referred to as being“connected” or “accessed” to other component, it should be understoodthat not the component is directly connected or accessed to the othercomponent, but also there may exist another component between them thecomponent and the other component. Meanwhile, in the case whereaccording to which a component is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly accessed” to other component, it should beunderstood that there is no component therebetween.

The terms used in various embodiments of the present disclosure are usedto describe specific various embodiments, and are not intended to limitvarious embodiments of the present disclosure. As used herein, thesingular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, the terms including technical and scientificterms used in this specification may have the meaning that can becommonly apprehended by those skilled in the art. The terms, such as theterms defined in the commonly-used dictionary, are to be interpretedbased on the context of the related technology and are not to beinterpreted ideally or excessively unless obviously defined otherwise invarious embodiments of the present disclosure.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be a device including a communication function. Forexample, the device may include at least one of a smartphone, a tabletPersonal Computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader,a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a digital audioplayer, a mobile medical device, a camera, or a wearable device (e.g.,head-mounted-device (HMD) such as electronic glasses, an electronicgarment, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronicaccessory, an electronic tattoo, or a smart watch).

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, anelectronic device may be a smart home appliance including acommunication function. For example, the smart home appliance mayinclude at least one of a TeleVision (TV), a Digital Video Disk (DVD)player, an audio device, a refrigerator, an air-conditioner, vacuum, anoven, a microwave, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, aTV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), gameconsoles, an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, oran electronic frame.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, anelectronic device may include at least one of various medical devices(e.g., Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), a scanning machine, an ultrasonic wavedevice, and the like), a navigation device, a Global Positioning System(GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder(FDR), vehicle infotainment device, an electronic equipment for a ship(e.g., navigation equipment for a ship, gyrocompass, or the like),avionics, a security device, a vehicle head unit, an industrial orhousehold robot, an Automatic Teller's Machine (ATM) of financialinstitution, or a Point of Sales (POS) of a store.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, anelectronic device may include at least one of furniture or a portion ofa building/structure that includes a communication function, anelectronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector,or various measuring instruments (e.g., water, electricity, gas, orelectric wave measuring equipment, and the like). An electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be acombination of at least one of the aforementioned various devices. Inaddition, an electronic device according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be a flexible device. In addition, it is obviousto those skilled in the art that the electronic device according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to theaforementioned devices.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The term user used in various embodiments of the presentdisclosure may refer to a person who uses an electronic device or adevice (e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic device) that uses anelectronic device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 100 according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure may include a display unit 110, aninput unit 120, a storage unit 130, a wireless communication unit 140,an audio processing unit 150, a speaker (SPK), a microphone (MIC), and acontroller 160.

The display unit 110 may display various information on a screen underthe control of the controller 160. The display unit 110 may include adisplay panel or a hologram. The display panel may be, for example, aliquid-crystal display (LCD) and an active-matrix organic light-emittingdiode (AM-OLED), or the like. The display panel may be implemented so asto be, for example, flexible, transparent, or wearable. The displaypanel may include a “touch panel 111” which is an input unit for theinteraction between a user and the electronic device 100. Thus, thedisplay unit 110 may be referred to as a touch screen. The touch panel111 may be implemented as an add-on type which is placed on a screen ofthe display unit 110 or an on-cell type or an in-cell type which isinserted into the display unit 110. The touch panel 111 may detect auser input (e.g., a display request of received message) through, forexample, at least one of a capacitive type, a resistive type, aninfrared type or an ultrasonic type, and generate an event correspondingto the user input to transmit to the controller 160. The hologram mayshow a three-dimensional image in the air by using the interference oflight. The display unit 110 may further include a control circuit tocontrol the display panel or the hologram.

The input unit 120 may be different from the touch panel 111 installedin the display unit 110 and may include, for example, a touch key. Thetouch key may be able to recognize the touch or approach of a human bodyand an object. The input unit 120 may generate an event in response tothe user input, and transmit it to the controller 160. The input unit120 may be implemented by further including a different type of key inaddition to a touch type. For example, the input unit 120 may beimplemented by including at least one dome key. When user presses downon a dome key, the dome key may be deformed to contact a printed circuitboard. Accordingly, an event may occur in the printed circuit board, andmay be transmitted to the controller 160.

The storage unit 130 may store data (e.g., SMS, MMS, SNS message,e-mail) generated by the electronic device 100 or received from externaldevice through the wireless communication unit 140 under the control ofthe controller 160. The storage unit 130 may store a boot program, atleast one operating system, and applications. In addition, the storageunit 130 may store various setting information (e.g., the screenbrightness, the activation of notification of message from unregisteredsource, the activation of unregistered message box, the indication ofmessage-related information from unregistered source, and the like) forsetting the operating environment of the electronic device 100.Accordingly, the controller 160 may operate the electronic device 100 byreferring to the setting information.

The storage unit 130 may include a main memory and a secondary memory.The main memory may be implemented by, for example, a RAM. The secondarymemory may be implemented by a disk, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, orthe like. The main memory may store various programs loaded from thesecondary memory, for example, a boot program, an operating system andapplications. When the power of the battery is supplied to thecontroller 160, the boot program may be firstly loaded into the mainmemory. The boot program may load the operating system into the mainmemory. The operating system may load the application into the mainmemory. The controller 160 may access the main memory and decode aninstruction (routine) of a program, and execute the function accordingto the decoding result.

The storage unit 130 may further include an external memory. Forexample, the storage unit 130 may include a compact flash (CF), a securedigital (SD), a micro secure digital (Micro-SD), a mini secure digital(Mini-SD), an extreme digital (xD), a MemoryStick, or the like, as anexternal memory.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the storageunit 130 may store a message source list 131, a message box 132, amessage source check module 133, a message display control module 134,and a message box management module 135.

The message source list 131 may include a plurality of sourceinformation. Each source information may include, for example, e-mailaddress, sender's name, phone number, home address, work address,nickname, identifier (e.g., ID used in a social network), and the like.Here, the source may be referred to as a contact. In addition, themessage source list may also be referred to as an address book or acontact list. The update (e.g., the deletion or edition of at least aportion of existing source information, the addition of new sourceinformation to the list) of the message source list 131 may beaccomplished by the user's request. For example, the controller 160 mayreceive user request through the input unit 120, or the touch panel 111.Alternatively, the controller 160 may receive user request from amicrophone (MIC) through the audio processing unit 150. Alternatively,the controller 160 may receive user request from an external input unit(e.g., a wireless keyboard, a wireless headset with a microphone)through the wireless communication unit 140. The controller 160 mayupdate the message source list 131 in response to user request.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the messagesource list may be stored in an external storage device (e.g., cloudserver), not in the electronic device 100. Alternatively, the externalstorage device may store a separate message source list which is atleast partially identical (e.g., part of source information isidentical) with the message source list 131. Alternatively, the externalstorage device may store a separate message source list different fromthe message source list 131. In this case, the controller 160 may accessto the message source list stored in the external storage device,through the wireless communication unit 140.

The message box 132 may include a registered message box 132 a and anunregistered message box 132 b. Here, ‘unregistered’ may indicate thatit cannot be determined whether the received message is a spam message,as the source information of the received message does not exist (e.g.,is not registered) in the message source list 131 (or in the externalmessage source list). Alternatively, ‘unregistered’ may mean It cannotbe determined whether the received message is a spam message as thesource of the received message is not registered (e.g., sourceinformation does not exist in the received message). “Registered” mayindicate that the received message is to be classified as a normalmessage for a certain user (i.e., user of the electronic device 100) andnot as a spam message, because the source information of the receivedmessage exists (e.g., is registered) within the message source list 131(or in the external message source list)”. If so, the unregisteredmessage box 132 b may include a message received from “source that doesnot exist in the message source list 131 (or in the external messagesource list)”. In addition, the unregistered message box 132 b mayinclude a message received by the electronic device 100 without sourceinformation. The registered message box 132 a may include a messagereceived from “source that exists in the message source list 131 (or inthe external message source list)”.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the messagesstored in message box 132 may include, respectively, attributeinformation indicating whether it is registered. Alternatively, messagebox 132 may include ‘attribute information’ corresponding to each of thestored messages. In this case, it is not necessary that message box 132should be classified and managed into the registered message box 132 aand the unregistered message box 132 b. According to various embodimentsof the present disclosure, if the source information of unregisteredmessage is added to the message source list 113, the controller 160 maychange (e.g., move from the unregistered message box 132 b to theregistered message box 132 a or change the attribute information) theattribute of corresponding message from ‘unregistered’ to ‘registered’.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the messagemay include information that indicates whether a corresponding messageis seen by user. Alternatively, message box 132 may include “informationthat indicates whether a corresponding message is seen by user”corresponding to each of the stored messages. For example, if acorresponding message is displayed on the screen, the controller 160 mayset this state as a state in which the corresponding message has seen byuser.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, thecontroller 160 may change the attribute of unregistered message to‘registered’, if the user has seen the unregistered message.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, theunregistered message may be automatically deleted. For example, thecontroller 160 may determine whether the state of message satisfies aspecific condition. If the state of message satisfies a specificcondition, the controller 160 may delete the unregistered message fromthe message box 132. Here, the case of satisfying a specific conditionmay include the cases of “a certain period of time (e.g., one day) iselapsed after receiving”, “unregistered message is seen by user”, “acertain period of time (e.g., a half-day) is elapsed after unregisteredmessage is seen by user”, or “not changing to ‘registered’ although acertain period of time is elapsed”.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, theunregistered message may be moved from the unregistered message box 312b to a spam box (not shown), if the condition satisfies a specificcondition. For example, in the case of “message is not seen by useralthough a certain period of time is elapsed after receiving”, or “notchanging to ‘registered’ although a certain period of time is elapsed”,the controller 160 may move the unregistered message to the spam box(not shown). In other words, the state of the unregistered message maybe changed into the spam message.

The message source check module 133 may be set to enable the controller160 to execute a function that determines whether the source of messageis registered (in other words, whether message is registered). Themessage display control module 134 may be set to enable the controller160 to execute a function that controls the display of message. Themessage box management module 135 may be set to enable the controller160 to execute a function that manages message box 132.

The wireless communication unit 140 may perform voice communication,video call, or data communication with an external device throughnetwork under the control of the controller 160. The wirelesscommunication unit 140 may include a mobile communication module (e.g.,a 3-Generation mobile communication module, a 3.5-Generation mobilecommunication module or a 4-Generation mobile communication module,etc.), a digital broadcasting module (e.g., a DMB module), and ashort-range communication module (e.g., a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetoothmodule, a Near Field Communication “NFC” module).

The audio processing unit 150 may perform input and output of audiosignal (e.g., voice data) for voice recognition, voice recording,digital recording, and call, in combination with the speaker (SPK) andthe microphone (MIC). The audio processing unit 150 may receive theaudio signal (e.g., voice data) from the controller 160, D/A convert thereceived audio signal into an analog signal, and amplify and output tothe speaker (SPK). The speaker (SPK) may convert and output the audiosignal received from the audio processing unit 150 into sound wave. Themicrophone (MIC) which is another input unit may convert the sound wavetransmitted from a person or other sound source into an audio signal.The audio processing unit 150 may transmit the audio signal receivedfrom the microphone (MIC) to the controller 160 after converting intodigital signal through A/D conversion.

The audio processing unit 150 may provide an audible feedback related tomessage reception under the control of the controller 160. For example,if unregistered message is received, the audio processing unit 150 mayoutput voice data or sound data to guide this.

The controller 160 may control the overall operation of the electronicdevice 100 and the signal flow between the internal configurations ofthe electronic device 100, process data, and control the supply of powerfrom battery to the above configurations. The controller 160 may includea processor 161. The processor 161 may include an application processor(AP), a communications processor (CP), and a graphic processing unit(GPU). The processor 161 may implement a message processing method byusing the modules 133˜135. Hereinafter, the message processing methodaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure is describedin detail.

Meanwhile, the electronic device 100 may further include configurationsthat are not mentioned above, such as an ear jack, a proximity sensor,an illumination sensor, a GPS reception module, or the like. Inaddition, the electronic device 100 may further include an interfaceunit for a wired connection with external device. The interface unit maybe coupled with external device in a wired manner (e.g., a USB cable).Then, the controller 160 may perform data communication with externaldevice through the interface unit.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.3 illustrates an example notification screen according to the method forprocessing a message of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, at operation 210, the controller 160 may receive amessage from the external device through the wireless communication unit140. The message may be received by the electronic device 100 togetherwith source information (e.g., telephone number).

At operation 220, the controller 160 may determine whether the source ofmessage is known (e.g., whether source information for the receivedmessage exists in the message source list 131). For example, thecontroller 160 may check the message source list 131, and may determine(e.g., detect) whether the received source information exists in themessage source list 131. Additionally or alternatively, the controller160 may transmit an authentication request message including thereceived source information to the external storage device through thewireless communication unit 140. The external storage device maydetermine whether the source information received from the electronicdevice 100 exists in a message source list of the external storagedevice, and send a response message including the determination result(e.g., information indicating successful authentication ornon-authentication) to the electronic device 100. If the source does notexist in the list, it is determined that the source is registered.Otherwise, it is determined that the source is not registered.

On the other hand, the message may be received without the sourceinformation. Then, the source of message may be determined to beunregistered. Alternatively, the controller 160 may control the wirelesscommunication unit 140 to transmit a message requesting the sourceinformation of a corresponding message to a message relay device (e.g.,a base station). The controller 160 may determine whether the source ofa corresponding message is registered by using the source informationreceived from the message relay device.

If the source of message is known (e.g., in other words, if the messageis registered), the controller 160 may perform an operation 250 todisplay the message (which will be described in greater detail later).

If the source of message is unknown (e.g., in other words, if themessage is not registered), the controller 160 may control the displayunit 110 to display a “message reception notification” at operation 230.Referring to FIG. 3, the message reception notification may be displayedas, for example, a pop-up window 310. The pop-up window 310 may includea guide 311 indicating to a user that the source of received message isnot known. Source information 312 (e.g., in this example, a telephonenumber) may also be displayed, which may aid the user in identifying asource of the message. Buttons 313 and 314 may enable a user to select adisplay of message.

Independently of a display of message reception notification (e.g., apop-up window 310), the controller 160 may control the audio processingunit 150 to output sound or voice data.

The controller 160 may determine whether message display request isreceived from an input unit (e.g., the input unit 120, the touch panel111, the microphone (MIC) or an external input) at operation 240.

If the message display request is received (e.g., if a “touch event”according to the selection of “Yes” button 313 by user is received fromthe touch panel 111), the controller 160 may control the display unit110 to display a message at operation 250. Additionally, the controller160 may register (e.g., store) the message in the unregistered messagebox 132 b. If message box 132 is not classified into the registeredmessage box 132 a and the unregistered message box 132 b, the controller160 may store the attribute information indicating ‘unregistered’ inmessage box 132 together with message. In addition, the controller 160may set (e.g., store “information indicating that message is seen byuser” in a box together with a corresponding message) the unregisteredmessage as a message which is seen by user.

Meanwhile, as a determination result of the operation 220, if the sourceof message is known, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110to display a message (i.e., registered message) at operation 250. Forexample, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110 to displayat least a part of registered message and the source information. If anentire display request is received from the input unit, in response tothis, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display theentire content of the registered message. As another example, thecontroller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display the sourceinformation of the registered message. If the message display request isreceived from the input unit, in response to this, the controller 160may control the display unit 110 to display the entire content of theregistered message.

As a determination result of the operation 240, if the message displayrequest is not received (e.g., in other words, if the user's response tothe reception notification is ‘message display reject’ as indicated by a“touch event” detected by the touch panel 111 selecting the “No” button314), the controller 160 may terminate the display of message receptionnotification, and register (e.g., store) the message in the unregisteredmessage box 132 b at operation 260. If message box 132 is not classifiedinto the registered box 132 a and the unregistered message box 132 b,the controller 160 may store the attribute information indicating‘unregistered’ in message box 132 together with message. In addition,the controller 160 may set the unregistered message as an “unread”message which has not yet seen by user by storing information indicatingas such, such as a flag or data marker indicating an “unread” status,together with the corresponding message.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, if theuser's response to the reception notification is ‘message displayrequest,’ the controller 160 may set an attribute of the receivedmessage from “unregistered” to “registered.” In other words, thecontroller 160 may register the received message in the registered box132 a. That is, the user indicates is not interested is treated as spam.In addition, the source of such message treated as spam may beregistered in a spam list.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.5 illustrates an example notification screen according to the method forprocessing a message of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, at operation 410, the controller 160 may receive amessage from the external device through the wireless communication unit140. At operation 420, the controller 160 may determine whether thesource of message is known. If the source of message is known, thecontroller 160 may perform an operation 450 to display the content ofthe message (which will be described later).

If the source of message is not known, the controller 160 may controlthe display unit 110 to display at least a part of message at operation430. Referring to FIG. 5, the display unit 110 may display, for example,a pop-up window 510 including a part 511 of message, which may be apreview portion of the total message. The pop-up window 500 may furtherinclude a guide 512 indicating to a user that the source of receivedmessage is not known, source information 513 showing an attribute of thereceived message (e.g., telephone number), and buttons 514 and 515enabling a user to select a displayed button, toggle or input of thedisplayed message.

At operation 440, the controller 160 may determine whether messagedisplay request is received, such as selection of the “Yes” button 514.If the message display request is received, the controller 160 maycontrol the display unit 110 to display an entire content of message atoperation 450.

Meanwhile, as a determination result of the operation 420, if the sourceof message is known, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110to display a message (i.e., registered message) at operation 450. Asanother example, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110 todisplay at least a part of registered message and the sourceinformation. If an entire display request is received from the inputunit, in response to this, the controller 160 may control the displayunit 110 to display the entire content of the registered message. Asanother example, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110 todisplay the source information of the registered message. If the messagedisplay request is received from the input unit, in response to this,the controller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display theentire content of the registered message.

As a determination result of the operation 440, if the message displayrequest is not received such as if a selection of “No” 515 is detected,the controller 160 may terminate display of partial message, and storethe message (i.e., as an unregistered message) in the unregisteredmessage box 132 b at operation 460.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, at operation 610, the controller 160 may receive amessage from the external device through the wireless communication unit140. At operation 620, the controller 160 may determine whether thesource of message is known. If the source of message is known (in otherwords, if the message is registered), the controller 160 may control thedisplay unit 110 to display a message (i.e., registered message) atoperation 630.

If the source of message is not known (in other words, if the message isnot registered), the controller 160 may store the message (i.e.,unregistered message) in the unregistered message box 132 b at operation640.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.8 illustrates an example notification screen according to the method forprocessing a message of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, at operation 710, the controller 160 may receive amessage from the external device through the wireless communication unit140. At operation 720, the controller 160 may determine whether thesource of message is known. If the source of message is known, thecontroller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display a message(i.e., registered message) at operation 730. If the source of message isnot known, the controller 160 may control the display unit 110 todisplay information related to a message (i.e., unregistered message) atoperation 740.

Referring to FIG. 8, related information 811 may be displayed in an area810 indicating an operating state of the electronic device 100. Therelated information 811 may include, for example, a cumulative (e.g.,count) number of unregistered messages stored in the unregisteredmessage box 132 b (e.g., “3” in the upper left hand corner of thedisplay). The cumulative number may be classified and displayed as anumber (e.g., “1,” “2,” 3,” etc.) of unregistered messages which weredisplayed according to the user's input and the number (e.g., 2) ofunregistered message the user indicated not to be displayed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, at operation 910, the controller 160 may receive amessage from the external device through the wireless communication unit140. At operation 920, the controller 160 may determine whether thesource of message is known. If the source of message is known, thecontroller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display a message(i.e., a registered message) at operation 930.

If the source of message is not known, at operation 940, the controller160 may check setting information related to unregistered messages,which may be stored in the storage unit 130, and determine whether afunction storing messages in an unregistered message box is activated.If the function of storing messages in an unregistered message box isactivated, at operation 950, the controller 160 may store the message(i.e., the unregistered message) in the unregistered message box 132 b.

If the function storing messages in the unregistered message box is notactivated, at operation 960, the unregistered message may be treatedidentically with the registered message. For example, the controller 160may control the display unit 110 to display at least a part of theunregistered message and the source information. If an entire displayrequest is received from the input unit, in response to this, thecontroller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display the entirecontent of the unregistered message. As another example, the controller160 may control the display unit 110 to display the source informationof the unregistered message. If the message display request is receivedfrom the input unit, in response to this, the controller 160 may controlthe display unit 110 to display the entire content of the unregisteredmessage.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing amessage according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, at operation 1010, the controller 160 may receivea message from the external device through the wireless communicationunit 140. At operation 1020, the controller 160 may determine whetherthe source of message is known.

If the source of message is known, the controller 160 may performdisplay of the message in operation 1060 (which will be described inmore detail later).

If the source of message is not known, at operation 1030, the controller160 may check setting information related to unregistered message, thesetting information stored in the storage unit 130, and determinewhether a notification function is activated.

If the notification function is activated, at operation 1040, thecontroller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display a messagereception notification indicating that a message for which the source isnot known has been received.

The controller 160 may determine whether a message display request isreceived from an input unit (e.g., as generated by a user in response tothe message reception notification) at operation 1050.

If the message display request is received (e.g., by a user indicatingthat the message having an unknown source is to be displayed), thecontroller 160 may control the display unit 110 to display a message(i.e., the unregistered message) at operation 1060.

Tangentially, returning to the operation 1020, if the source of messageis recognized or otherwise known, then the controller 160 may controlthe display unit 110 to display a message (i.e., as a registeredmessage) in operation 1060.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for setting anenvironment in an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 12 illustrates an example interface screenfor setting a method for processing an unregistered message according toone embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the display unit 110 may display interfaceinformation 1210 configured to allow a user to set the functions relatedto unregistered messages, as shown in FIG. 12. The interface information1210 may include an item 1211 enabling a user to select (e.g. toggle asetting) activation of a notification function for unregistered messages(e.g., entitled in this example “unregistered message notification”), anitem 1212 for selecting or toggling a function allowing registration ofmessages within an unregistered message box, and an item 1213 forselecting or toggling displaying of unregistered messages and relatedinformation (e.g., the cumulative number of unregistered message).

At operation 1110, the controller 160 may receive the settinginformation related to the unregistered message, as generated frominputs, for example, made to a touch screen. At operation 1120, thecontroller 160 may store the received setting information in the storageunit 130 in response to, for example, a storage request event receivedfrom the touch screen.

For example, if the user selects a check box 1211 a of the item 1211,the control unit 160 may control the display unit 110 to display a checkshape, e.g., “√” in the check box 1211 a. The “√” may also be indicatedin other checkboxes 1212 a and 1213 a as indicated or designated by arespective selection by the user. If user selects a “save” button 1220,the controller 160 may activate the function corresponding to theselected (e.g., checked) item or items.

The present disclosure can provide a method for processing a messagethat can accurately filter out a message necessary for a user and anelectronic device implementing the same.

The term “module” used in various embodiments of the present disclosuremay refer to, for example, a “unit” including one of hardware, software,and firmware, or a combination of two or more thereof. The term “module”may be interchangeable with a term such as a unit, a logic, a logicalblock, a component, or a circuit. The “module” may be a minimum unit ofan integrated component or a part thereof. The “module” may be a minimumunit for performing one or more functions or a part thereof. The“module” may be mechanically or electronically implemented. For example,the “module” according to various embodiments of the present disclosuremay include at least one of an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC) chip, a Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), and aprogrammable-logic device for performing operations which has beenregistered or are to be developed hereinafter.

At least some of the devices (e.g., modules or functions thereof) or themethod (e.g., operations) according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be implemented by a command stored in anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a programming moduleform. If the command is executed by one or more processors (e.g., theprocessor), the one or more processors may execute a functioncorresponding to the command. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium may be, for example, the storage unit 130. At least apart of the programming module may be implemented (e.g., executed) by,for example, a processor. At least a part of the programming module mayinclude, for example, a module, a program, a routine, a set ofinstructions, or a process for performing one or more functions.

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium may includemagnetic media such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape,optical media such as a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) and aDigital Versatile Disc (DVD), magneto-optical media such as a flopticaldisk, and hardware devices specially configured to store and perform aprogram instruction (e.g., programming module), such as a Read OnlyMemory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory and the like.In addition, the program instructions may include high class languagecodes, which can be executed in a computer by using an interpreter, aswell as machine codes made by a compiler. The aforementioned hardwaredevice may be configured to operate as one or more software modules inorder to perform the operation of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, and vice versa.

The module or the programming module according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure may include at least one or more of theabove-described elements, omit some of the above-described elements, ormay further include additional elements. The module, the programmingmodule or operations performed by other element according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure may be executed by a sequential, aparallel, an iterative, or a heuristic method. In addition, someoperations may be executed in a different order, or omitted, or may addother operation.

The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure can beimplemented in hardware, firmware or via the execution of software orcomputer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM,a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a magnetic tape, a RAM, a floppy disk, ahard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or computer code downloaded over anetwork originally stored on a remote recording medium or anon-transitory machine readable medium and to be stored on a localrecording medium, so that the methods described herein can be renderedvia such software that is stored on the recording medium using a generalpurpose computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicatedhardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art,the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or theprogrammable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash,etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that ifaccessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implementthe processing methods described herein. In addition, it would berecognized that if a general purpose computer accesses code forimplementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the codetransforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computerfor executing the processing shown herein. Any of the functions andsteps provided in the Figures may be implemented in hardware, softwareor a combination of both and may be performed in whole or in part withinthe programmed instructions of a computer. No claim element herein is tobe construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph,unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for”. Inaddition, an artisan understands and appreciates that a “processor” or“microprocessor” may be hardware in the claimed disclosure. Under thebroadest reasonable interpretation, the appended claims are statutorysubject matter in compliance with 35 U.S.C. §101.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed in thisspecification and the drawings are provided for illustration purposeonly and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure.Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that many variations andmodifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which mayappear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing messages in an electronicdevice, comprising: receiving via a communication unit a message from anexternal device; if source information of the received message isunregistered in a message source list and a first function to display anotification is preconfigured as activated by a touch input, displayingby a display unit the notification to indicate that a filter-out messageis received, the source information including at least one of a name anda phone number; determining by a processor whether a second function toactivate filtering of unregistered messages is preconfigured asactivated by a second touch input to store, as the filter-out message,any message received from any unknown source; if the second function ispreconfigured as activated by a second touch input, and the sourceinformation of the received message is unregistered in the messagesource list, storing the received message as the filter-out message; andif source information of at least one message stored as a filter-outmessage in an unregistered message box is added to a message sourcelist, move the at least one message, associated with the sourceinformation, stored in the unregistered message box from theunregistered message box to a registered message box, wherein the firstfunction and the second function are activated in response to detectingat least one touch input in displayed setting options including a firstselectable option to activate the first function including displayingthe notification, and a second selectable option to activate the secondfunction.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying anicon representing a cumulative count of a number of received filter-outmessages from a plurality of sources on a notification bar displayed onthe display unit, the notification bar displayed to a terminal edge ofthe display unit.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: if thesource information is registered in the message source list, displayingon the display unit the source information.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the filter-out message is classified according to attributeinformation of the received message.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe filter-out message comprises an unregistered message that is notregistered in the message source list.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe displayed setting options further comprises a displayed graphicselectable via the touch input to indicate that the first function isactivated, and the displayed graphic is visually altered in response toselection by the touch input.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising displaying a pop-up window for the filter-out message, thepop-up window including display of at least a portion of a text of thefilter-out message.
 8. An electronic device, comprising: a display unit;a communication unit; a storage unit; and a control unit configured to:store a message source list, receive via the communication unit amessage from an external device, if source information of the receivedmessage is unregistered in the message source list and a first functionto display a notification is preconfigured as activated by a touchinput, display by the display unit the notification to indicate that afilter-out message is received, determine whether a second function toactivate filtering of unregistered messages is preconfigured asactivated by a second touch input to store, as the filter-out message,any message received from any unknown source, the source informationincluding at least one of a name and a phone number, if the secondfunction is preconfigured as activated by the second touch input, andthe source information of the received message is unregistered in themessage source list, store the received message as the filter-outmessage in the storage unit, and if source information of at least onemessage stored as a filter-out message in an unregistered message box isadded to a message source list, moving the at least one message,associated with the source information, stored in the unregisteredmessage box from the unregistered message box to a registered messagebox, wherein the first function and the second function are activated inresponse to detecting at least one touch input in displayed settingoptions including a first selectable option to activate the firstfunction including displaying the notification, and a second selectableoption to activate the second function.
 9. The electronic device ofclaim 8, wherein the control unit is further configured to: control thedisplay unit to display an icon representing a cumulative count of anumber of received filter-out messages on a notification bar displayedon the display unit, the notification bar displayed to a terminal edgeof the display unit.
 10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein thecontrol unit is further configured to: if the source information isregistered in the message source list, displaying on the display unitthe source information.
 11. The electronic device of claim 8, whereinthe filter-out message is classified according to attribute informationof the received message.
 12. The electronic device of claim 8, whereinthe filter-out message comprises an unregistered message that is notregistered in the message source list.
 13. The electronic device ofclaim 8, wherein the displayed setting options further comprises adisplayed graphic selectable via the touch input to indicate that thefirst function is activated, the displayed graphic is visually alteredin response to selection by the touch input.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of an electronic device, including programinstructions executable by a processor to cause the electronic deviceto: receive via a communication unit a message from an external device,if source information of the received message is unregistered in amessage source list and a first function to display a notification ispreconfigured as by a touch input, display by a display unit thenotification to indicate that a filter-out message is received, thesource information including at least one of a name and a phone number,determine whether a second function to activate filtering ofunregistered messages is preconfigured as activated by a second touchinput to store, as the filter-out message, any message received from anyunknown source, if the second function is preconfigured as activated bythe second touch input, and the source information of the receivedmessage is unregistered in the message source list, store the receivedmessage as the filter-out message, and if source information of at leastone message stored as a filter-out message in an unregistered messagebox is added to a message source list, move the at least one message,associated with the source information, stored in the unregisteredmessage box from the unregistered message box to a registered messagebox, wherein the first function and the second function are activated inresponse to detecting at least one touch input in displayed settingoptions including a first selectable option to activate the firstfunction including displaying the notification, and a second selectableoption to activate the second function.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 14, the program instructions furtherexecutable by the processor to: control the display unit to display anicon representing a cumulative count of a number of received filter-outmessages on a notification bar displayed on the display unit, thenotification bar displayed to a terminal edge of the display unit. 16.An electronic device, comprising: a display unit; a communication unit;a storage unit; and a control unit configured to: store a message sourcelist having source information including at least one of a name and aphone number, receive via the communication unit a message from anexternal device, if source information of the received message isunregistered in the message source list and if a filter-out function isactivated to manage messages received from unregistered sources asfilter-out messages, store the received message as a filter-out messagein the storage unit, if a notification function is activated to displaya notification of a message received from an unregistered source,display by the display unit the notification to indicate that thefilter-out message is received, and if source information of at leastone message stored as a filter-out message is added to a message sourcelist, manage the at least one message associated with the sourceinformation as a normal message, wherein each of the filter-out functionand the notification function is activatable in response to detecting atouch input via a first selectable option to activate the filter-outfunction and a second selectable option to activate the notificationfunction to display the notification.
 17. The electronic device of claim16, wherein the control unit is further configured to: control thedisplay unit to display an icon representing a cumulative count of anumber of received filter-out messages from a plurality of sources on anotification bar displayed on the display unit, the notification bardisplayed to a terminal edge of the display unit.
 18. The electronicdevice of claim 16, wherein the control unit is further configured to:if the source information is registered in the message source list,control the display unit to display the source information.
 19. Theelectronic device of claim 16, wherein the filter-out message isclassified according to attribute information of the received message.20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the filter-out messagecomprises an unregistered message that is not registered in the messagesource list.
 21. A method in an electronic device, comprising: receivingvia a communication unit a message from an external device; if sourceinformation of the received message is unregistered in a message sourcelist and if a filter-out function is activated to manage messagesreceived from unregistered sources as filter-out messages, storing thereceived message as a filter-out message in a storage unit; if anotification function is activated to display a notification of amessage received from an unregistered source, displaying by a displayunit the notification to indicate that the filter-out message isreceived; and if source information of at least one message stored as afilter-out message is added to a message source list, managing the atleast one message associated with the source information as a normalmessage, wherein each of the filter-out function and the notificationfunction is activatable in response to detecting a touch input to thedisplay unit via a displayed first selectable option to activate thefilter-out function and a displayed second selectable option to activatethe notification function to display the notification, and wherein thesource information includes at least one of a name and a telephonenumber.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: displaying anicon representing a cumulative count of a number of received filter-outmessages from a plurality of sources on a notification bar displayed onthe display unit, the notification bar displayed to a terminal edge ofthe display unit.
 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: if thesource information is registered in the message source list, displayingon the display unit the source information.
 24. The method of claim 21,wherein the filter-out message is classified according to attributeinformation of the received message.
 25. The method of claim 21, whereinthe filter-out message comprises an unregistered message that is notregistered in the message source list.
 26. A non-transitory computerreadable medium storing sequences of instructions, and the sequences ofinstructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processorto: receive via a communication unit a message from an external device,if source information of the received message is unregistered in amessage source list and if a filter-out function is activated to managemessages received from unregistered sources as filter-out messages,store the received message as a filter-out message in a memory, if anotification function is activated to display a notification of amessage received from an unregistered source, control a display unit todisplay the notification to indicate that the filter-out message isreceived, and if source information of at least one message stored as afilter-out message is added to a message source list, manage the atleast one message associated with the source information as a normalmessage, wherein each of the filter-out function and the notificationfunction is activatable in response to detecting a touch input to thedisplay unit via a displayed first selectable option to activate thefilter-out function and a displayed second selectable option to activatethe notification function to display the notification, and wherein thesource information includes at least one of a name and a telephonenumber.
 27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26, thesequences of instructions further executable by the processor to:control the display unit to display an icon representing a cumulativecount of a number of received filter-out messages from a plurality ofsources on a notification bar displayed on the display unit, thenotification bar displayed to a terminal edge of the display unit. 28.The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26, the sequencesof instructions further executable by the processor to: if the sourceinformation is registered in the message source list, control thedisplay unit to display the source information.
 29. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the filter-out message isclassified according to attribute information of the received message.30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein thefilter-out message comprises an unregistered message that is notregistered in the message source list.